BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

25/04/2006

Yorkshire kindness prompts Belarus tears of gratitude

Andrew Robinson

CHILDREN living in the shadow of the Chernobyl disaster have enjoyed gifts and aid from a Yorkshire school.

Teachers from Royds School in Rothwell, Leeds, have just returned from a village school in Belarus, which is twinned with their own.

The teachers were shocked by the poverty and living conditions they encountered in Maleiki, a village about 25 miles from Chernobyl, which is across the Belarus border in Ukraine.

The six teachers and Andy Pollard, a Harrogate-based Army instructor married to language teacher Helen, have just returned after a five-day trip to deliver desperately needed aid, from electrical goods to toothpaste.

Each visitor took over suitcases full of pens, pencils, paper and toys, all of which are in very short supply. Extra supplies collected by the school and local firms are being carried to the village by truck but have not yet arrived.

Mr Pollard and teacher Sally Stow, who organised the visit, took photographs to show pupils at Royds the poor conditions in the dilapidated school.

Despite the poverty and continued suffering caused by radioactivity, Mr Pollard says the people of Belarus are the kindest and friendliest he has met during years travelling with the Army.

He said: "The conditions they live in are bad compared to our standards but they are still a proud nation. They fed us every day - mashed potatoes, salami, fish eggs. They don't have many resources in the school for teaching but the teachers are very dedicated.

"A lot of work needs doing on the school itself. And there are a lot of health problems caused by radiation, such as thyroid cancer and teeth and bone problems.

"A few kids from this country ought to go out there and they would appreciate what they have got then."

Many villagers were in tears when it was time for their Yorkshire visitors to leave, he said.

A man called Leonid, who drove the Yorkshire contingent around Belarus, told the teachers that their work was appreciated.

Leonid said: "It's a very noble thing you are doing. If you can bring happiness to one person, it's a great thing that you have done."

The Royds delegation intends to return to the village in August and then visit every Easter. Children from Belarus will visit host families in Yorkshire in June.

Source:

http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1084&ArticleID=1462305